Starfish Prime (Blackfox Chronicles Book 2) (30 page)

“Ninety-five million Swiss
franc,” said the aide.  

The general used two fingers of his cupped right hand to si
gnal for the form. Michael handed him the document together with a government issue Skill craft pen he had gotten from SGT Howell. 

“Isn’t it ironic, son, that the same mark of pen that was used to sign your original enlistment papers is being used to set you free?” said Char. Michael didn’t reply, figuring he might jinx the moment, so Char turned his attention back to his coffee cup. 

The general handed the document to his aide and regarded the two men, “Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. The Marshal’s Service was awfully upset about two of their agents who turned up drugged and handcuffed to their beds in Santo Domingo. It almost kept me from obtaining your pardons,” said McElroy. 

The aide handed the general a large brown envelope. He r
emoved the certificates and handed one to Michael and the other to Char. They both examined the documents.

“Based on the signature, you do indeed hold some mar
kers. It seems we are free men,” said Michael.

McElroy regarded Char with a cold sta
re, “I owed you a favor, Mike; despite your father’s incident with the deputies. Take care of yourself. I would say stay out of trouble, but we both know that with him around, that’s not going to happen.”

Char smiled
at the man, brought his cup up as if toasting and then sipped from it. Major General McElroy turned and departed without another word as his aide called the room to attention.

“Saddle up, gentlemen. We have
a debrief on board in fifteen minutes,” said Colonel Hearth.

T
here were some hurried goodbyes and the team members departed to get their gear and move to the aircraft. 

Char signaled the waiter who promptly delivered two Caribe beers glistening with ice.

“So, tell me, what will do we do with five million francs?” asked Char 

“Well, the rent here can’t be cheap and I’m sure we’ll have to pay the pilot and deck hands some of it.”

“We should probably give some to the families of the dead Marines and the wounded certainly deserve a share,” said Michael.

Char looked flummoxed. “Why stop there? Why not give the rest of your team some of the loot?” 

“We can’t do it while they’re on active duty as they have to report it, but there’s no reason why we can’t hold it for them,” replied Michael.

After paying off the deck hands and the pilot, we’ll keep a million and give them the rest. That should afford us a few more years of high living.” 

“Make it two; running that boat is expensive,” said Char.

“Fair enough,” replied Michael. 

The beers arrived. Char picked up the bottle glistening with chips of ice and tapped it against Michael’s beer. 

“To fallen comrades,” said Char. Michael smiled. 

“To fallen comrades,” he repeated and then took a deep swig. 

ANGLICO
: Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Unit: Highly trained airborne Marines who provide forward fire support to Marine units in combat. 

AO
: Area of operations: The assigned area for operations assigned to a particular unit during combat operations 
Barrett Snipe Rifle (M82)
originally, designed as a fifty semiautomatic sniper rifle used to engage targets at up to a mile. Other variants are the M500, a version with the bolt assembly and magazine to the rear of the shooter called a Bullpup and the M109, the version carried by Victor 72 that fires a twenty-five millimeter exploding round. 

C-Hut
: Tropical Hut Type C is contingency housing built with plywood.  

COLMAR:
Acronym for Colombian Marines: U.S. Marine Corps designation for the Colombian Marine Infantry 

Corpsman
: Navy personnel assigned to Marine units to provide medical care. Highly trained and greatly respected medical technicians who live and fight alongside the Marines for whom they provide medical care. Not pronounced “Corpseman.”
CQB
: Close Quarter Battle: How troops are taught to enter and fight in enclosed spaces such as buildings and houses, during combat operations to maximize mutual support, safeguard themselves and noncombatants and effectively neutralized the enemy.  

Drug Deal
: In the particular vernacular of the U.S. Army, it refers to an agreement to do something that falls outside of official bureaucratic channels. It can be something as simple as arranging a better set of quarters for a comrade up to and including the conduct of an unofficial military operation. 

FOB:
Forward Operating Base. 

Force Recon (FORECON)
: The unit serves as highly mobile, intelligence gathering assets in support of Marine Corps AirGround Task Forces. Highly trained and mobile operators are specialized in clandestine insertion, deep reconnaissance and direct action missions. The Force Recon platoons are a Fleet

Marine Force Commander’s dedicated reconnaissance assets Force Recon’s Direct Action platoons became the first MARSOC units during the unit’s organization in 2006.  

FRAGO:
For Fragmentary Order; an abbreviated Operations Order employed on short notice given to subordinate units directing them to carry out a high priority task. 

FUOPS
: Future Operations: In staff organizations, the planning cell within the Operations Staff (G3) that provides planning for the future activities of units within the command. 
GO:
General Officer Grade O7 Brigadier; General; O8 Major General; O9 Lieutenant General; O10 General. 

G3:
Part of the General Staff that is set up to administer military units of battalion size and higher. The letter designation stipulates the size of the unit, a G designation means the unit is commanded by a General Officer, the S normally signifies a Brigade and lower command. The G1 administers personnel, much like an HR Department, the G2 is responsible for intelligence, the G3

Operations and the S4 logistics, G5 is Resource Management and G6 in Communications.  Larger commands will have additional staff directorates. 

HAHO
: High Altitude High Opening: Refers to a parachute jump where a parachute with a high glide coefficient is employed to allow the jumper to glide a long distance to the objective.  
High Value Target: (HVT):
is a person or an item that an enemy commander requires for completion of a mission. It can be a high ranking official, or a very powerful weapons system.  It is a term used to assist a friendly commander in prioritization of resources to target.  

Kevin
Mitnick:
A computer hacker the Justice Department called the most-wanted computer criminal in U.S. history. More can be found here: http://www.takedown.com/bio/mitnick.html
Klicks:
Military slang for Kilometers.  

KIAs
: killed in action; normally prefaced with “friendly” or

“
enemy.”  

LNO:
Liaison Officer: Friendly units in contact sometimes assign officers and NCOs within the command to coordinate activities affecting both units. These personnel usually collocate with the unit they support.    

Load-bearing vest
: A tactical garment that carries supplies needed in combat such as ammunition and explosives, first aid supplies, and other individual equipment.

Logpac
:
Logistical package: The preplanned delivery of all required classes of supply to a location
.
 

Ma Duce:
Nickname for the Browning designed M2 Heavy

Machine Gun

NCIC:
The National Crime Information Center is a criminal data clearing house run by the FBI, which provides a computerized database for ready access by criminal justice agencies making an inquiry about crimes and criminals.  Various departments within military organizations, including but not limited to the Criminal Investigation Directorate Command or CID, Military Intelligence and the Naval Investigative Service had access to NCIC.  
Night Vision Goggles (NVG)
: Battery operated devices that enhance the ambient night to provide enhanced vision in low light.  Different models are used affixed to a Marine’s helmet or as a rifle scope on individual or crew served weapons.  Current model is the ATN PS15-4, a fourth generation of development and fielding. 

Qud
Forces
: The Qud Force is a special operations unit of the

Republican Guards whose primary mission is to export the Isla
mic Revolution to the world and is responsible for the conduct of international covert operations. They are considered to be the cream de la crème of the Iran's Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (Revolutionary Guard). 

Insulin Pump
: Developed specifically for people with diabetes, insulin pumps allow for at-home insulin administration with accurate dosing, easy to understand informational readouts, and fast, comfortable use. Modern insulin pumps for home use include three basic parts: the pump, which is usually small enough to fit into a pocket or palm, a container for insulin placed within the pump apparatus, and a tubing set with needle, which allows for flow of the insulin from the pump to a subcutaneous entrance point on the user's body. 

Knots
for Nauts: Nautical Miles: A unit of length used in sea and air navigation, based on the length of one minute of arc of a great circle, especially an international and U.S. unit equal to 1,852 meters (about 6,076 feet).

M2 Machine Gun
: This venerable 50 caliber heavy machine was developed by John Browning towards the end of World War I and has remained in the U.S. inventory ever since. Its heavy, has a relatively slow rate of fire, but when the shits in the wind, it’s a good thing to have on your side. 

M4 Carbine
: A highly customized version of the M-16 assault weapon. It has a shorter barrel, telescoping butt and customized rail systems to mount scopes, infrared laser pointers and is primarily, (but not solely) used by Special Operations troops
MARSOC:
Marine Corps Special Operation Command: 

MEU:
Marine Expeditionary Taskforce: A combined arms unit task force built around a Marine Infantry Battalion as well as an aviation component.

MOUT:
Military Operations in Urban Terrain: How the military is trained to fight in an urban environment   

NGOs:
Non-governmental Organizations: May be charitable or Human Right organizations operating independently from government control with the mission of providing assistance to the local population.

SCADA:
supervisory control and data acquisition: A computer system used to control an electrical or mechanical system.  
SCIF
: Sensitive Compartmented Intelligence Facility: a secure enclosed area used to process highly classified information. 

TOC
: Tactical Operations Center

USSOCOM
: United States Special Operations Command: Referred to as Big SOCOM: a unified strategic command commanded by a four star general officer. The unit combines special operations forces from the fours services. MARSOC falls under the command of USSOCOM.  

SF
: Normally refers to Army Special Forces, but is sometimes used generically to refer to any Special Forces Operators. 
Sponson:
a structural unit attached to a helicopter fuselage by fixed struts, housing the main landing gear, fuel tanks and inflatable flotation bags 

WIAs:
Wounded in action; normally prefaced with “friendly” or

“
enemy.”

T.S. O’Neil writes about heroes with a few chinks in their armor.

He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) from the Army of the United States and a former Marine. He served twelve years on active duty and an equal number in the reserves of both the Army and Marine Corps in various occupational specialties including Civil Affairs, Military Police and Marine Corps Infantry. He is married to the lovely Suzanne O’Neil and lives in Seminole, Florida. He is also the author of
Tampa Star
and he will be publishing his next book,
Mudd’s Luck,
in early 2015.